NASA’s X-59 Surpasses Mach 1 on First Supersonic Flight
TL;DR
NASA announced that Lockheed Martin’s X-59 QueSST demonstrator achieved its first supersonic flight on June 5, 2026, reaching Mach 1.077 at about 43,400 feet (13,228 m) with a top speed of 713 mph during an Edwards Air Force Base test flight that lasted 81 minutes. The mission, part of NASA’s Quiet Supersonic Technology (Quesst) program, aims to develop a “quiet” supersonic tech that minimizes sonic booms so commercial flights over land could become viable; future test flights will push toward Mach 1.4 at higher altitude to collect data for regulators and help establish new noise standards.
- Going supersonic! NASA's X-59 jet breaks sound barrier for the 1st time Space
- NASA’s X-59 Aircraft Flies Supersonic for First Time NASA (.gov)
- NASA's X-59 jet is ready to break the sound barrier for the 1st time this month Space
- In early June 2026, the X-59 is expected to cross Mach 1 at 43,000 feet, the first sharp proof point in NASA's fifty-year attempt to turn an overland sonic boom into a certifiable thump Space Daily
- NASA’s X-59 Sonic Boom Killer Is Ready for Its Biggest Test Yet SciTechDaily
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